Social Action & Science

Being With DyingThis Professional Training Program for Clinicians in Compassionate Care of the Seriously Ill and Dying is fostering a revolution in care of the dying and seriously ill. Clinicians learn essential tools for taking care of dying people with skill and compassion.

ChaplaincyA visionary and comprehensive two-year program for a new kind of chaplaincy to serve individuals, communities, the environment, and the world.

More about the instructors:

Irène Kaigetsu Kyojo Bakker is a certified zen teacher from the Netherlands, a Zen priest and Dharma successor of Joan Jiko Halifax Roshi. She has been a student of Zen in the White Plum Sangha tradition since the mid-80s.

Irène Sensei first met Roshi Joan Halifax in Auschwitz in 1996 and they had a strong connection. Irène Sensei then became involved in Upaya's Zen training and Being with Dying training. In 2004, Roshi Joan asked her to continue her training on death and dying in Europe. Every summer, Sensei assisted teaching at Upaya Zen Center.

In Holland Sensei serves as teacher for Zen Spirit, which she founded in 2004. As family and systems therapist, she works with people with cancer, end of life care, in psychiatry, and private therapy practice. As a mindfulness trainer she teaches future MBSR trainers at the College / School for Social Work in Utrecht, Netherlands.

When receiving Denkai and Denbo in March 2012, Roshi Joan gave her the name Kaigetsu (Ocean Moon) in addition to Kyojo (Jeweled Mirror Samadhi), her Dharma name since Jukai in 1989.

Sensei Shinzan was born in Veracruz, Mexico, He is a zen priest and Dharma Successor of Roshi Joan Halifax. He has been practicing Zen since 1996. In Mexico City, he met Korean Zen Teacher, Ven. Samu Sunim. Shinzan trained in the Buddhist Maitreya Seminar under Samu Sunim as he lived in the Toronto Zen Buddhist Temple for 4 years. He was ordained in 2004 as a Zen Buddhist Priest.

Shinzan arrived at Upaya in 2006 and became a resident and student of Roshi Joan Halifax. He lived there and trained for over 8 years. He received the Dharma transmission on Jan 2015 from Roshi Joan Halifax.

He has taught Zazenkais and Sesshins at Upaya and co-teaches teen retreats in USA.

Shinzan left the residency of Upaya to return to Mexico and start a community spreading the Dharma in Mexico.

His vision is to create a Zen Hispanic community in the USA and Mexico.

Be sure to check out our Guide For Participants for information on housing, meals, travel, our cancellation policy and more.